However, if you can prove the foreclosure resulted from extenuating circumstances that are unlikely to recur, such as a divorce, catastrophic illness or layoff, the time period may be reduced to as little as three years.

WSJ: When to Buy After a Foreclosure��WSJ House Talk

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of layoff actions fell 29% from the same three-month period last year, and dropped 56% from the last quarter of 2012 when there were 2, 123 mass layoffs in the private sector.

FORBES: America's Pink Slip Capitals

The administrative and waste services sector reported 143 layoff events and 23, 284 separations for the three-month period.

FORBES: America's Pink Slip Capitals